Pinellas Pain Management Doctor And Wife Found Guilty

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury found Edward N. Feldman, M.D., guilty of conspiring to dispense controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, dispensing controlled substances that resulted in death, and money laundering. His wife, Kim Xuan Feldman, was also convicted of conspiring to dispense controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice and money laundering. Dr. Feldman faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison, and Mrs. Feldman faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. Their sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 23, 2016.

The Feldmans were indicted on December 10, 2014.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from October 2009 through December 2014, the Feldmans operated Feldman Orthopedic and Wellness Center (FOWC) in Pinellas Park, Florida. FOWC saw between 80-100 patients a day, with new patients paying $300 in cash for visits, and follow-up patients paying $150-$225 for visits. Insurance was not accepted at FOWC.

During the trial, an expert in pain management opined that Dr. Feldman’s prescriptions to patients had not been for a legitimate medical purpose and had been outside the usual course of professional practice. The expert further opined that Dr. Feldman had been so far outside the usual course of professional practice that he had not been practicing medicine when he had prescribed large doses of controlled substances to his patients.

Additionally, Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiners opined that J.M., R.G., and S.W. had died as a result of multi-drug toxicity related to the large amounts of Methadone, Oxycodone, Alprazolam, and Diazepam found in their systems. J.M. and S.W. only visited Dr. Feldman once before their respective deaths.  

Evidence also showed that the couple had deposited more than $5,000,000 in cash in dozens of bank accounts during the period of the charged crimes. The couple used proceeds from FOWC to purchase their home and property for their business, and to fund investments accounts. More than $500,000 in cash and gold were recovered from various bank accounts and safety deposit boxes in the name of the Feldmans and other family members. Also, a 2011 Porsche, 2006 Infinity, and 2009 Mercedes Benz were seized. The issue of forfeiture will be determined at a later date.  

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shauna S. Hale and Kaitlin O’Donnell.